Stopped in here for dinner on a Saturday night around 6pm. Most of our group was excited they had birria tacos and items on the menu, however, they were out so we had to pick something else to order. That had cute christmas decor for the holidays, and decent music playing. Service was pretty decent in terms of ordering/paying/getting out food. We'll have to come back another time to see if they have birria in stock. read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Sope - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

Fun taco joint with lots of other options. The Chile verde is the standout - chunks of tender pork with great tomatillo chili. Asada and Carnitas tacos are good and simple examples. We didn't try the seafood but the table next to us did and enjoyed. Chips and salsa were great (homemade) and the salsa has a kick! The taco stand across the street serves the absolutely best tacos but it has no indoor seating and no cover from the sun. If you are looking for a sit down joint, El Lugarcito is a good option. read more

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We visited on a road trip from Los Angeles to Santa Cruz. They seated us right away on a Sunday evening. I'd prefer to give them 3.5 for food, but I'm rounding up for their speedy service and abundance of hot sauce. I had the al pastor taco combination. It was pretty decent. The salsa was good, but just a tad to spicy for my taste. The prices were decent too. read more

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If you like fresh - homemade Mexican food then this is a must stop. The flour tortillas are excellent- obviously homemade. We had the famous chili verde. It was tender with lots of flavor. It was not too spicy so you always add your own. I had the carne asada burrito plate. The beef is so fresh. The burrito is simple with just meat and beans in a homemade tortilla. The salsa is hot with a great kick. They have seating outside on the patio as well as several tables inside. You will pay at the window when you have finished your meal. read more

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Tortillas are good. Hubby enjoyed his menudo. There was no hominy. Very rich. Burrito was on the smaller side but matched the price. Surprise 2% service fee. I'm not sure for what since it wasn't written anywhere. read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Surprise 2% service charge. - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

Two words, fried catfish when available. You don't need anything else. Chips and salsa also one of the best in town.

I've lived in King City for 6 years and barely went to El Lugarcito yesterday... I can't believe I've been missing out for 6 years! So so goood. You can tell the food is made from scratch, it also came out shortly after ordering. Definitely a spot to continue to visit. I ordered a torta and really enjoyed it although a sandwich like that feels too "bread heavy" so it won't be my usual thing but again it was still good. My dad got the Bistec Ranchero and said it's the best one in town! Looking forward to going back and enjoying more food here. read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Bistec Ranchero - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

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Ok! That was delicious! We're stuffed. We were looking for a place to stop and eat and King City had quite a few places to choose from, but something told us to try out El Lugarcito. I ordered a shrimp taco combo. Two tacos, rice and beans. They even gave me half of a very fresh avocado! You could taste the flavors of everything. Tacos came in homemade taco shells and each bite was freshness at its finest. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. I can't say enough about homemade Mexican rice. Theirs was so fluffy and tasty, and the refried beans were piping hot and full of flavor too. Husband ordered the chili verde plate and he said it was the best he's ever tasted. He said the meat was tender and the sauce was absolutely delicious. Cute little place. Indoor/outdoor appearance. Kind of like a sunroom without the sweltering heat. You can eat inside or outside on the patio. It may have been 115° outside, but not in here. They had a couple misters going and we were very comfortable sitting in there eating. Flow of patrons was steady. Three tables were already being serviced, and I could see the cooks working away at preparing the dishes. Too bad we live so far away. This is a must return to place for us next time we come back through. read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Side entrance to restaurant and outdoor eating area - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

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I saw the reviews on yelp and decided to stop on my way the San Antonio Mission. The soup and ceviche tostada hit the spot. The customer service was great and even the chips and salsa (spicy- just the way I like it) we're on point. Two thumbs up! read more

There's a reason this restaurant has been open for nearly 30 years! The service and food are on point! Traditional Mexican cuisine served locally, using local grown ingredients and presenting authentic Mexican flavors. The servers are friendly and the food is freshly cooked and on your table in a timely manner. The variety of flavors and the decently priced food will wow you! The beverage selection is great and the ambience is very pleasant. One of my favorites places in King City. read more

Hands down one of the best Authentic Mexican eateries in town. Excellent customer service and always very clean. This place is always busy during lunch time but they are quick service every time. Great selection of food on those menus. I always make a quick stop for those delicious chips & salsa. Best Chips n Salsa around! read more

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What a find and thanks to Yelp our new favorite stopping point from the Bay Area down south on hwy 101. Excellent everything and the prices are great for what we got. Wife loved the shrimp tacos with melted cheese on the tortilla. I liked the menudo with the dried red chilis O touched that also got my attention after I used the rest room as I thought I got an STD when I returned. read more

I have a very strange relationship with King City. It's not a conflicted relationship--no, I don't harbor any ill will whatsoever toward King City, Caltrans nearly single-handedly making it very dangerous at the moment to drive on the 101 through the city notwithstanding. It's a strange relationship because I thought I was an expert. I had seen the little parks and medium parks and mysterious and unexpected suburban neighborhoods around them. I knew where to get gas, even if I couldn't name the gas brands because I swear each and every King City gas station has rebranded at least twice in the past ten years. I knew how to use surface streets to get from the Broadway Exit to the Canal Street exit, and vice versa. I even knew where all the kids used to hang out and eat pizza back in the day, even though I never went to King City back in the day. So when I was driving back to San Francisco with my dad in tow a couple of weeks back, I mentioned that we could stop in King City to get gas. He remembered a Mexican restaurant that my brother had brought him to before, and I knew exactly the spot, so I exited at Canal Street, entered the King City Center, and parked right in front of El Taco Bravo (https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-taco-bravo-restaurant-king-city). Sadly, it was closed, but surprisingly, my dad told me this wasn't the Mexican restaurant my brother had taken him to. "It's on an older main street," my dad said. An older main street? In King City, California? I know most little cities have existed for a long time, but I had no idea King city had an old main street, let alone any main street. And then I looked up King City Mexican restaurants on Yelp, and holy schnikes! there was an entire part of King City, California, that I never knew existed. I knew how to get to Broadway Street, but instead of turning left, I turned right, and I was welcomed to a lovely, oldish part of town that had plenty of independent little markets and lots and lots of taquerias. We passed the restaurant my dad had been to and settled on El Lugarcito because it got the best reviews. It looks like a dump from outside, and the inside is a work in progress, but rather than close the entire place down while they refurbished it from top to bottom, they've decided to take it one section at a time. We were sitting in the recently redone section, and the booths are gorgeous and well made and just really display some amazing custom craftsmanship. The rest of the restaurant? Meh. Our culinary experience didn't start well, as both my dad's and my first chips from the bowl were really stale, as in these two chips had been sitting in a bin somewhere for at least three days, and I was considering getting up and leaving, but the allure of those booths. . . . The menu is quite odd, which gave me high hopes because strangely done menus in places like this usually portend some really good food. We ordered, and not more than three-and-a-half minutes after the server had left, he returned with my dad's combination plate. I'm not exaggerating how quickly the food came out. Mine was out a couple of minutes later, and the food was really good. Like really good. Like I know abuelita was in the back cooking because this just reminded me so much of the food I've had at my friends' houses--and their aunts' houses and their grandmas' houses and their cousins' houses, etc. We were sitting and enjoying this fresh, fantastic food, and we couldn't understand how a place like this could serve stale chips. So I reached for the opposite side of the nacho bowl, and the chip I pulled out was really fresh. I pulled out a couple more, and they were fresh too. My dad followed my lead, and we each had a fresh-to-stale-chip rate of about 8:2. I guess the folks at Lugarcito didn't throw out the old chips before they filled the bin/basket/cage/box with fresh ones, so we just happened accidentally to pick the wrong side of the bowl to start picking from. The fresh chips were delicious. I want to come back. And I hope they finish the construction, eventually. It's worth the little trip to the end of Broadway Street, and you can say you feel like a local even though you won't feel like a local. Did I mention that the staff was super nice and welcoming? read more

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I'm writing my review while waiting for my husband to finish his carnitas plate. It was huge. And the pork is huge chunks of delicious fresh meat. I had to add a picture to show how juicy it looks inside. I had a chili verde burrito combination plate, not wanting such a huge meal. I disagree with the earlier poster who said it was as small as a gas stays ion burrito. The chili verde was wrapped in a homemade flour tortilla and was as fresh and good as my husband's carnitas-- they've got cooking meat down to perfection. The rice was very good and different than I've ever had. It was just good fresh rice homemade with a bit of vegetables simmered in the broth for flavor when making it. The seasoning of the chili verde was delicious and let the chili flavor come through. Again, it was also different than just simmering the meat in green sauce that most restraints do. The booths and bar seats are beautifully made. The restaurant has a homey flair the staff were attentive. Floors and tables were clean and inviting. We were able to use our credit card when we went up to pay (a sign said cash only on the way in the door). Prices seemed reasonable for what I've been seeing lately and their bigger plates were huge for what you pay. More than I can eat, so I may talk my hubby into sharing a carnitas plate next time. Other a la carte items are very reasonably priced. Tacos, Burritos, Tostadas all have a choice of 7 different meats. Kids menu, too! Ask about the specialty drinks. They served the most amazing things to the table next to us. They Modelo turned upside down caught our eye. They made our tea and Diet Coke look sad, but then again we still had to drive to our destination. read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Carnitas: deep-fried pork served with homemade flour tortillas, fresh avocado, salad, rice and beans. Fries are included, too. - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

We stopped here on our way down South. Found it on Yelp and it did not disappoint. We got the seafood cocktail and carnitas plate. The carnitas was damn delicious! The plates came with rice, beans and FRIES! Service was friendly and fast! Will def stop here again read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Seafood cocktails - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

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Stopped here serendipitously while driving to Pinnacles NP. It was the Easter weekend, many of the eateries in King City were closed. Yelped a bit before picking this place. We had tacos, vegetarian and shrimp. Both were excellent, great taste at unbelievable price, made for a very nice light lunch. Service was prompt and welcoming. The place has a rustic charm, so much nicer than some overrated spots in the Bay Area. Will recommend!! read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - two plates of food on a table - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

Terrible food, no flavor Canned margaritas Canned veggies in rice,no flavor in beans, not even salt & pepper Tacos were the worst my hubby has ever ate read more

Great spot for lunch. Authentic menu. The garlic shrimp and asada were great. Friendly ppl. read more

As soon as you walk into this restaurant, there's nobody to greet you or give you a table. The food was tasteless over all the costumer service an food poor quality. If you wanna go out for drinks that's the place because it's really loud read more

Absolutely legit local Mexican food. It's not fancy but it's great eats. The pastor is amazing and the prices are great. The salsa is hot and the chips are thick, awesome. Never had rice like this and it's addictive. Friendly service and obviously a local favorite. Get some. read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

This past weekend we had our rehearsal dinner out on the patio. Alejandra and her team killed it! The food was amazing!!! I forgot to get a picture of the food because we were so excited to eat. All of our guests loved it and some even returned the next day! The service was great! food and drinks were out so fast and they even played music to match our vibe. They worked with my mother-in-law who brought in decorations. We were a party of 25 and a few kids. They have a photo backdrop area and a little grass patch on the ground that the kids played on. 10 out of 10. Amazing experience! read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Patio party - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

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Great food! Our go to in Kings City! Love their outdoor patio, service, and food. Their wattresses are quick and kind! They remembered us after one visit! read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - The entrance! - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

We always find consistent Great food, good service and consistent results Not the best at answering phones on one occasion

I like the burritos and tacos and menudo service is always quick .. it has been remodeled so they have new tables TVs good setup.....

Alex gives u the top Service & food authentic & fresh , especially their sea food menu read more

I live in San Luis Obispo, any trip north I make I am sure to plan el Lugarcito on my way out or back. My husband even compared his love to me as mine is for this restaurant. Funny part is, I just get a plain bean burrito and it is the best I've ever had (and I've had so many in my lifetime). The tortillas, beans, and salsa are so fresh. The salsa is spicy and so good. It hits the spot every time. Their only downfall is when they are randomly closed. Please don't ever change! read more

Born and raised in King City, I'm biased for sure, but I've been out in the world and tried lots of things, and the carne Asada burrito here cannot be beat. They are smallish, so if you're very hungry and/or are used to a "super burrito" from other joints, you might want two. This does give you the option to order the combo plate with rice and beans, all very good, or just order two. I really like the cabeza and the Chile verde burritos too. This is not to say you shouldn't try other stuff, it's all good, particularly the shrimp dishes, but the carne Asada burrito is the top of the class here (and anywhere). It's simple, meat, salsa, onions, cilantro, salsa. read more

The best authentic food in town. Great service! Fast in and out and for family gatherings it's a great place to go with family and friends

great food and service is very nice... drinks are cold and tacos , chicken plate ... fast service and friendly

The Carne Asada burritos are my favorite they may be in the smaller side but they're bomb and have kept me coming back to this place for years. If you're sensitive to spicy food you should ask for the sauce on the side so you can add to your own pleasure.Dont forget to add the sauce because that is what gives the over the top flavor. read more

This place is hit and miss most if the time the food is great but some days the cook must be having a bad day

Looking for a taqueria on our drive south we searched yelp and were not disappointed with our lunch at El Lugarcito. Good service, large portions and yummy authentic Mexican food! read more

Great food, excellent service. Highly recommend. Stopped on the way to Santa Cruz from L.A.

I smell celery in the air. Ahhh. No wonder. We are in King City, once known as Hog Town, famous for nothing. Land of overturned dirt! Surely you must know, King City is NOT a haute cuisine capitol. That's ok. Because, for those with grumbling tummies, I have found just the place for you! Doing a search on Yelp, and a drive thru, I found that the town consists of 99% Mexican restaurants and markets, and possibly one Chinese restaurant, and a pizza joint. Odds were pretty good we would have Mexican food. But the Lugarcito reviews turned my head. Mostly written by non-locals, the reviews proclaim their loyalty and intent to return. Good enough. The drab outside of Lugarcito does not prepare you for the cutely decorated, tropical Mexican patio inside. Fresh paint. Clean. Friendly. Two TVs going with two different stations on. Bathrooms, entry from the outside. Camaron al mojo de ajo. A plate of 4 butterflied, shell on, shrimp, roasted garlic cloves, refried beans, pink rice, and salad. A quarter of an avocado, AND last but not least, french fries. Oh. Duh. Tortillas. Anyone who thinks this is not enough food for about $13 must need a lobotomy. I am here to report: excellent. Shrimp cocktail. This is a typical Mexican cocktail, with medium shrimp, served in a cool spa of tomato sauce. The sauce had cucumber, chopped tomato, onion, and cilantro in tomato juice. I like mine with a kick, so spiked it up with some of their spicy salsa, lime juice and a little more salt. Again: about $13. My only regret was the complimentary chips were overcooked. Excellent meal. And coming from a hometown where Mexican food is stellar, I tend to be quite biased. Total $27.89. And two happy tummies. Yes, I too would look forward to coming here again if passing thru King City. read more

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PIT STOP - GOOD MEXICAN FIX ~~~~~~~~~ in the Middle of 101 No-Where ....downtown KING CITY! Ugh! NO Kings, here! ~~~~~~~~~~ great pit stop on the long hundred + mile "forever" road from GILROY to (SLO) San Luis Obispo (Central Coast)! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ but closes at 9 PM.... ~~~~~ it is about 2 miles away from the 101....BTW so use your GPS.....easy to miss off the 101 since the road forks after "spinning under the S101 underpass(go right)! (NOTE: I REALLY HATE WHEN THE YELP PROGRAM DECIDES TO LOWER CASE EVERYTHING....UGH...IF I CAP TOO much :) ! Since the selection of mexican food in SLO is generally pathetic & if you are unfortunate to be driving too late at night, since by the time you get to SLO, if will be too late to eat a big meal....& digest it properly! This hole-in-the-wall mexican place that lots of yelpers like, sure hit the spot one night, but they do close early! Nice clean place. good food selection, but mostly seafood & meat. Their seafood SOUP was outstanding! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ with great flavor & huge hunks of fresh veges! CARNE ASADA was yum too!!! see pics! :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NO cheese at all, IMHO, kind of weird for a mexican place. For Veges, my wife had to get a Vege Burrito, Beans.....so almost no Vege selections. It is probably the best place in this one horse town!!! ************************************************************************** Other Pit-stops includes Fast-Food places, Amero-Chinese, or Starbucks in the other tiny Mexican Farming (Or Prison) towns along the 101 (e.g. Soledad) read more

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Solid restaurant in town with great service. They were really quick on a Sunday afternoon. Had the Carnitas plate which was huge! Two of us could not finish it. Came with rice, French fries, regrows beans, lettuce, avocado, tomato and of course, big chunks of yummy carnitas. Washed it down with a sprite. Yum! read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - King City, California

I was referred to this place by a co worker so I thought I would give it a try. I ordered menudo that came with no hominy so I was very disappointed I then ordered a burrito which was ok . I ordered a 6 piece chicken nugget w/fries meal for my daughter and it was $8!!! Seriously!!! My husband ordered a 7 seas soup which he said was tasty but literally had heart burn for 2 days... lol I really can't say I will ever recommend this place and I definitely won't be coming back. Nothing really unique about this place but customer service was pretty good so I'll give them that. Menudo would be perfect if it just had hominy read more

After seeing the reviews I was so excited to eat lunch here. Boy was I disappointed! We ordered two shrimp plates. One tasted just like shrimp mixed with tomato sauce. The rice isn't tasty and they were over flowing with sauce the to go orders spilled everywhere. After paying and getting my receipt I noticed I was charged for 3 shrimp plates. I didn't order 3 shrimp plates. They argued with me and said two people spoke with my party and that's what we ordered. So very frustrating. read more

The home made salsa has lots of flavor with the right amount of "heat". We had the carnitas tostada and 2 taco combo. Both were delicious. Met my expectation for a down home Mexican restaurant. read more

One of my favorite restaurant in Monterey County or here in King City. All their food is cooked fresh and their carne asada tacos are one of my favorites on the menu. If you are looking for a bigger dish try the camarones al mojo de ajo! Also their MICHELADAS are BOMB read more

El Lugarcito Restaurant - Drink michelada / beer - Mexican Near Me - King City, California